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Nile River Valley Nile River Valley CivilizationCivilization
Egypt: “Gift of the Nile”Egypt: “Gift of the Nile”
GeographyGeography
Developed along the Nile RiverDeveloped along the Nile River• Longest river in the worldLongest river in the world• Flood, plant, harvest, floodFlood, plant, harvest, flood• Silt: rich, fertile soilSilt: rich, fertile soil• Worshipped as a godWorshipped as a god
DesertsDeserts• Protected from invasionsProtected from invasions• Reduced interaction with other peoplesReduced interaction with other peoples
GeographyGeography
Upper EgyptUpper Egypt• SouthSouth• 11stst cataract (rapids) to where river fans cataract (rapids) to where river fans
outout Lower EgyptLower Egypt
• North near the seaNorth near the sea• Nile delta regionNile delta region• Broad, marshy area formed by silt Broad, marshy area formed by silt
deposits at mouth of riverdeposits at mouth of river
Lower EgyptLower Egypt
GeographyGeographyADVANTAGEADVANTAGE
Advantage over Mesopotamian Advantage over Mesopotamian civilizations: Nile River very civilizations: Nile River very
predictable in flooding. predictable in flooding. Tigris/Euphrates Rivers very Tigris/Euphrates Rivers very
unpredictable.unpredictable.
GeographyGeography
FloodingFlooding• Yearly flodding in JulyYearly flodding in July• Rain and melted snow traveled from Rain and melted snow traveled from
central-east Africacentral-east Africa
NavigationNavigation• Drift North towards the deltaDrift North towards the delta• Sail south with the windSail south with the wind
GeographyGeography
Natural BarriersNatural Barriers• The desert surroundings reduced The desert surroundings reduced
contact with other civilizationscontact with other civilizations• The desert also provided a natural The desert also provided a natural
barrier that shut out invadersbarrier that shut out invaders
HistoryHistory
Menes – first ruler of a united EgyptMenes – first ruler of a united Egypt
The Old Kingdom 2660-2180 B.C.The Old Kingdom 2660-2180 B.C.
The Middle Kingdom 2080-1640 B.C.The Middle Kingdom 2080-1640 B.C.
The New Kingdom 1640-1075 B.C.The New Kingdom 1640-1075 B.C.
United EGYPTUnited EGYPT
OLD KingdomOLD Kingdom
Social CulturalSocial Cultural• Polytheistic- deities associated with Polytheistic- deities associated with
objects and emotionsobjects and emotions• Pyramids-final resting place for Pyramids-final resting place for
pharaohspharaohs• Hierarchy-royal family and nobles, Hierarchy-royal family and nobles,
middle class, and lower classmiddle class, and lower class• Afterlife-soul weighed against a featherAfterlife-soul weighed against a feather
Social HierarchySocial Hierarchy
OLD KingdomOLD Kingdom
PoliticalPolitical• God-Kings- success depended on his God-Kings- success depended on his
ability to fulfill his religious obligations ability to fulfill his religious obligations and believe to be divineand believe to be divine
• THEOCRACY- government where the THEOCRACY- government where the ruler is seen as divineruler is seen as divine
• Capital at MemphisCapital at Memphis
OLD KingdomOLD Kingdom
EconomicEconomic• Massive Public Works-building of the Massive Public Works-building of the
pyramidspyramids• Pyramids at GizaPyramids at Giza• Papyrus-record keeping on first paperPapyrus-record keeping on first paper
disadvantage: disadvantage: decomposesdecomposes
GizaGiza
Middle KingdomMiddle Kingdom
SocialSocial• Hierarchy continues- strong central Hierarchy continues- strong central
authority established by nobles and authority established by nobles and pharaohs power diminishedpharaohs power diminished
Middle KingdomMiddle Kingdom
PoliticalPolitical• Hyksos-asian nomads swept into Egypt Hyksos-asian nomads swept into Egypt
with horse drawn chariotswith horse drawn chariots
Middle KingdomMiddle Kingdom
EconomicEconomic• Trade and Transportation- canal dug Trade and Transportation- canal dug
from Nile to Red Seafrom Nile to Red Sea• MODERN day Suez canalMODERN day Suez canal
New KingdomNew Kingdom
Social Social • Valley of the KingsValley of the Kings• Hierarchy continuesHierarchy continues
New KingdomNew Kingdom
Political Political • Hatshepsut-encouraged trade instead of Hatshepsut-encouraged trade instead of
warwarsince queen was not accepted since queen was not accepted
even she even she is depicted as having a beardis depicted as having a beard
• Term “Pharaoh” is first usedTerm “Pharaoh” is first used• Capital moved to ThebesCapital moved to Thebes• KING TUT-unimportant rule, but famousKING TUT-unimportant rule, but famous
King TutKing Tut
New KingdomNew Kingdom
Economic Economic • First time trade is encouragedFirst time trade is encouraged
General Political/RulersGeneral Political/Rulers
God-KingsGod-Kings Pharaohs = divinePharaohs = divine Theocracy = ruler a divine figureTheocracy = ruler a divine figure Responsible for Kingdom’s well beingResponsible for Kingdom’s well being Dynasties = ruling familiesDynasties = ruling families
Social/CulturalSocial/Cultural
Religion = polytheistic (many gods)Religion = polytheistic (many gods)• Believed in after-life and judgmentBelieved in after-life and judgment• Pyramids = tombs after deathPyramids = tombs after death• The Old Kingdom was great age of The Old Kingdom was great age of
pyramid buildingpyramid building• Mummification: preserve body by Mummification: preserve body by
embalming and dryingembalming and drying• Consumed with the after-lifeConsumed with the after-life
What happened when a Pharaoh What happened when a Pharaoh died?died?
When a pharaoh died, the body was When a pharaoh died, the body was preserved by people called embalmers.preserved by people called embalmers.
Embalmers took the body to the Beautiful Embalmers took the body to the Beautiful House- the name of where they worked.House- the name of where they worked.
They removed some of the inner parts of They removed some of the inner parts of the body first. The organs were taken out the body first. The organs were taken out and stored in special containers called and stored in special containers called canopic jars. canopic jars.
The heart was left in the body however, so The heart was left in the body however, so that it could be weighed in the afterlife.that it could be weighed in the afterlife.
Then they rubbed the body with special Then they rubbed the body with special ointments and wrapped it tightly with ointments and wrapped it tightly with bandages.bandages.
When a body had been treated in this way When a body had been treated in this way it was called a mummy. it was called a mummy.
The mummy was put in a coffin. The coffin The mummy was put in a coffin. The coffin was the same shape as the body, and had was the same shape as the body, and had a carved , painted face on it.a carved , painted face on it.
A funeral was held by a Priest in the A funeral was held by a Priest in the temple.temple.
The coffin was then taken to the The coffin was then taken to the pharaoh’s tomb. pharaoh’s tomb.
The pharaoh was buried with all their The pharaoh was buried with all their possessions, for use on the journey possessions, for use on the journey to the next world.to the next world.
The Egyptians believed that The Egyptians believed that mummification preserved the body of mummification preserved the body of the deceased and ensured their the deceased and ensured their survival forever.survival forever.
PyramidPyramid
Great SphinxGreat Sphinx
Social/CulturalSocial/Cultural
Society structured like a pyramidSociety structured like a pyramid• Royalty at topRoyalty at top• Upper Class = wealthy landowners, Upper Class = wealthy landowners,
government officials, priests, etc.government officials, priests, etc.• Middle Class = merchants and artisansMiddle Class = merchants and artisans• Lower Class = peasants, etc.Lower Class = peasants, etc.• Women had many of same rights as Women had many of same rights as
menmen
Pharaohs and QueensPharaohs and Queens Who were the Who were the
Pharaohs?Pharaohs?
They were the kings or They were the kings or Queens of Egypt. They Queens of Egypt. They were the head of the were the head of the government and high government and high priest of every temple. priest of every temple. The pharaoh owned all The pharaoh owned all of Egypt. He or she of Egypt. He or she decided what was right decided what was right or wrong and their word or wrong and their word was law. The people of was law. The people of Egypt considered the Egypt considered the pharaoh to be a half-pharaoh to be a half-human and half-god. human and half-god.
PriestsPriests
Priests were very Priests were very important people in important people in Egyptian times. Besides Egyptian times. Besides serving the gods, serving the gods, priests did many other priests did many other jobs, such as teaching, jobs, such as teaching, or even helping with or even helping with the harvest. Priests had the harvest. Priests had to be pure and clean. to be pure and clean. They shaved their They shaved their heads and bodies and heads and bodies and washed four times a washed four times a day.day.
This statue of a priest has a bald
head, a fake beard and he is in
the praying position
NoblesNobles
Noble on a hunting trip with
his family
Court Officials and Noblemen held high office in Ancient Egypt and helped the Pharaoh to rule the country. The Pharaoh would often reward loyal nobles with gifts of land, so that they would earn their own money from taxes.
Being a noble was one of the best jobs in Egypt. Nobles were rich and could enjoy themselves hunting and having banquets.
ScribesScribes What is a Scribe?What is a Scribe?
Scribes were the few Scribes were the few Egyptians who knew how Egyptians who knew how to read and write. Being a to read and write. Being a scribe was an extremely scribe was an extremely difficult job because in difficult job because in total, there were hundreds total, there were hundreds of different hieroglyphs to of different hieroglyphs to remember. remember.
A scribe's job was highly A scribe's job was highly regarded in Ancient Egypt. regarded in Ancient Egypt. Although being a scribe Although being a scribe was rewarding, the training was rewarding, the training could take as long as could take as long as twelve years. twelve years. A peasant
making papyrus
Scribes were very wise
This statue of a Scribe was found
in his tomb
CraftsmenCraftsmen
Craftsmen carving statues and ornaments
Carpenters using a
bow drill
Metal workers making precious objects
Egyptian craftsmen Egyptian craftsmen were highly skilled. were highly skilled. They learned their They learned their trade from their trade from their fathers and, in turn, fathers and, in turn, taught their sons. taught their sons. They used simple They used simple techniques and tools techniques and tools to make all sorts of to make all sorts of useful things. The useful things. The Pharaoh, government Pharaoh, government or temples often or temples often employed them.employed them.
PeasantsPeasants
The most important The most important business in Egypt business in Egypt was farming. Most of was farming. Most of the people who the people who worked in the fields worked in the fields and barns were and barns were peasants. During the peasants. During the flood season when flood season when no farming could be no farming could be done the peasants done the peasants did building work on did building work on temples and palaces.temples and palaces.
Peasants herding
cattle for the Pharaoh
Peasants preparing food for a banquet
Social/CulturalSocial/Cultural
WritingWriting• HieroglyphicsHieroglyphics• Papyrus – writing surface (paper)Papyrus – writing surface (paper)• Rosetta StoneRosetta Stone
Discovered in 1799Discovered in 1799 Clue to deciphering hieroglyphicsClue to deciphering hieroglyphics
EconomicEconomic
Nile River helped unify Egypt and Nile River helped unify Egypt and promote tradepromote trade
Reliable transportation between Reliable transportation between Upper and Lower EgyptUpper and Lower Egypt
During Middle Kingdom, dug canals During Middle Kingdom, dug canals from Nile to Red Seafrom Nile to Red Sea
Trade with Mesopotamia and Indus Trade with Mesopotamia and Indus river valley civilizationsriver valley civilizations
EconomicEconomic
Wealth from new trade used for Wealth from new trade used for public works projectspublic works projects
Dikes and irrigationDikes and irrigation
AccomplishmentsAccomplishments
HieroglyphicsHieroglyphics PapyrusPapyrus Geometry-property boundriesGeometry-property boundries Mathematics and Engineering- Mathematics and Engineering-
building of pyramidsbuilding of pyramids Solar calendarSolar calendar Advances in medicine-pulse, surgeryAdvances in medicine-pulse, surgery Use of bronze-two wheeled chariotsUse of bronze-two wheeled chariots